iran accepts an invitation to take part in talks on syria's war. ♪ you are watching al jazeera, i'm sami zeidan live from our headquarters in doha. also coming up, tanzania's elections thrown into confusion, the vote in one area annulled for not being free and fair. myanmar's opposition failed to select a single muslim candidate. plus how thawing u.s., cuban

10:01 am

relations could be a game changer for cuban athletes. one way or another iran will have to part of syria's future. that's the view of u.s. president barack obama's view. meanwhile it's military is playing a key war in the war, supporting the syrian regime. in a moment we'll be live in washington, d.c. with rosiland jordan. but first this report. >> reporter: this is one of the funerals for iranian soldier killed in syria. the u.s. says nearly 2,000 iranian forces are in syria fighting in support of the government. iranian generals have been assuring the people foreign

10:02 am

involvement issing important. a commander has this to say: but more countries getting involved in the conflict has not stopped the killing of civilians. and many feel iran is being forced to publicly acknowledge the deaths of its solders. >> not a single day goes by that you don't here news about the death of at least one or two soldiers in syria. the advisors have been in syria from day one. if they are acknowledging it now, it is because they cannot hide it from the international community or the public inside the country. >> reporter: the coffins aren't just arriving in tehran, hezbollah has also been burying its fighters who have been

10:03 am

killed in syria. russia is providing syria's military with air cover. syrian rebels have become under increasing attack. but they say they are defending their areas against a powerful coalition. >> i think if iran is accepting the dialogue now to sit at the same negotiating table with the rest of the international community to find a dialogue and a way out of the syrian crisis by dialogue and politics, i think that is because it doesn't want to lose anymore commanders. >> reporter: iran is invited to take part in talks about syria, but agreement to fight what russia and the u.s. call terrorist groups. and soldiers from all sides will continue to buried. >> rosiland jordan joins us from

10:04 am

washington, d.c. how much of a shift is taking place in u.s. policy towards iran? >> reporter: well, what you see here is a sense of pragmatism being exhibited by the obama administration. even though the u.s. is not in any way calling iran a key partner, it does recognize because of iran's close relationship with the government in damascus, that there can be a role for iran as they try to work out some sort of end to the civil war in that country. again, this is about being pragmatic and about finding the levers in the obama administration's view to try to end the civil war and to try to move bashar al-assad out of power. it doesn't really mean much more than that. >> to what extent though, roslyn has this move been coordinated with other u.s. allies like saudi arabia, and other gulf

10:05 am

countries? >> reporter: certainly there have been a lot of discussions in recent days we understand where there have been concerns about one country that might be seen as a regional rival to another. somehow getting some sort of toehold at these talks that are taking place in vienna officially on friday, but there will also be informal talks on thursday, but that said, there is a growing recognition, especially in light of the waves of people who have been fleeing the civil war in syria, that there needs to be some sort of resolution, and so it's our understanding that the invitation was extended by russia, not by the united states, and that the understanding is that this is an opportunity where key allies and key partners to try to talk about the solution. again, it's a focus on the pragmatic, not on trying to craft some larger, grand vision for the entire region. it's very much focused on trying

10:06 am

to stop the fighting and trying to put in some sort of political transition inside syria. >> rosiland jordan there. there's a huge contrast between the glitzy hotels in vienna, and the conditions experienced by refugees. they will now receive $14 per person, per month until the end of the year. >> what we have seen is that the international community recognizing that we are -- and have been desperately in need of financial support keep helping syrians, have found the money to come forward and give us this lifeline for people for the winter period. right now we can cover people through until january, but obviously after that it is going to get difficult again, but the most critical point is during

10:07 am

the really difficult winter months families can put food on their table for their children. righting between the iraqi army and isil have killed at least 10 people. shelling from the iraqi army silled six civilians nearby. the palestinian president has asked the united states for international protection. his appearance in geneva comes among growing unrest in the occupied territories. nadim baba has this update. >> reporter: this speech by the palestinian president at the yates human rights council, didn't contain any surprises. it contained repeat of threats by abbas previously, not to honor international agreements with israel, if israel didn't

10:08 am

honor those same agreements. he said they were already in violation of various agreements since the 1990s. but the urgent matter that he brought up, was what he called the need for the international community to establish an international protection force for palestinians civilians. >> translator: what we warned of has happened. the situation of human rights in the occupied palestinian territories including east jerusalem as a result of the continued israeli occupation and itself practices is the worst and most critical since 1948. this calls for a strong and decisive intervention and requires shouldering the responsibility before it's too late. >> reporter: he listed a series of crimes he said israel was currently committing, including the demolition of the family homes of people arrested by

10:09 am

israel, settlement activity, and what he called extra judicial killings, he is accusing israeli forces and israeli settlers in the occupied west bank of in some cases, killing palestinians civilians, and then using the pretext that they were trying to attack israelis. something which is disputed by palestinians in some cases. now it's an issue which has been brought up by amnesty international on wednesday, saying that their own investigations lead them to believe that that has .hahhed. mahmoud abbas will be going later this week to talk to the prosecutor at the international criminal court in the hague where we'll be asking for the icc to look into what he calls extra judicial killings, but it's not clear whether there will be any swift action on that issue. results from tanzania's

10:10 am

presidential election would be delayed after votes in a semiaon the mouse region were annulled. catherine soi has the latest. >> reporter: the electoral commission nullified the results for that semity aon the mouse state citing gross violations of electoral laws. they are talking about cheating and violence after the vote, and people being intimidated when going to vote. we are being told there is a heavy security presence in the streets, and here the main opposition coalition has reje rejected by the national

10:11 am

collection commission, say are saying that the results were heavily rigged, that they are misleading tanz kneeians that they are saying what is thing relayed is not consistent with the figures coming out. the national commission is saying what is being announced is factual and has been signed off by agents from all of the major political parties. the national electoral commission, urging people to keep calm, and the final tally is expected to be out by thursday, but so far, the provisional result and the count that is still going on, the ccm ruling party candidate is on the lead. volkswagen has announced a third quarter operating loss of

10:12 am

nearly $4 billion. the latest figures come out after the firm admitted fitting cars with software to cheat emission tests. >> reporter: for the same period last year have vw was operating a profit of about $3.5 billion. now an operating loss for the third quarter of the year of about $3.9 billion, reflecting the depth that this scandal and the work that vw will now have to do to try to repair the damage that has been done. now the new ceo of vw will address investors about now, answering their questions and their concerns. he put out a statement earlier today saying we will do everything in our power to win back the trust we have lost. he'll travel to china later to meet chinese investors going

10:13 am

with the german chancellor, of course trying to reensure them that vw is still a trust-worthy brand. still to come, the african union releases a long-awaited report on the scale of the conflict in south sudan, and millions head to the polls in india, in an election many consider a referendum on the prime minister. ♪

10:14 am

10:15 am

>> ali velshi, lifting the lid... >> cameras in place for money and not safety. >> on the red light controversy. >> they don't give two cent about your safety. >> there's an increase in rear end accidents. >> ali velshi on target: hitting the breaks. welcome back. let's recap the headlines here on al jazeera.

10:16 am

iran has accepted an invitation to at tend talks onningening the war in syria. result from tanzania's presidential election could be delayed after votes in one area were annulled. german car maker volkswagen has announced its first quarterly losses in 15 years. they announced an operating loss of $3.9 billion. the african union has releeted along-awaited report into south sudan's civil war. it accuses the state of organized and systemic murder in the capitol and both sides of violating human rights. a spokesperson for the south

10:17 am

sudanese government says the government accepts responsibility for some of the crimes which took place. >> the government has agreed partly with this report; that the violations -- there are some violations that happened during the -- the queue attempt on the 15th of december 2013, and that is why the government has constituted in the aftermath of 2015 queue attempt, and in the commission of inquiry and they have locked up some soldiers that were thought to have perpetrated the crimes against humanity. >> when south sudan gained independence many hoped to build a new life in the count twri, but since then around 200,000 people have returned north to sudan because of the conflict. caroline malone explains. >> reporter: this is the mother of six children. she's from south sudan and voted

10:18 am

for independence four years ago, but she has been forced to leave her home and go back to where she used to live in sudan. >> translator: i really regretted it. i will never go back to south sudan. if you saw how they killed our loved ones, you could not imagine how we arrived in sudan. neighbors gave us beds. >> reporter: nearly 200,000 people have run away from the violence in south sudan in the last four years. government forces are fighting rebel groups for control with civilians often becoming the victims. five members of this family were among them. her relatives were attacked her mother and sister were killed and she doesn't know what .hahhed to the others. >> reporter: my mother and sister were hit in the head. other siblings were separated from us, and i don't know where they are right now. >> reporter: four years ago it

10:19 am

was a different story. after years of conflict, people voted to separate from sudan. the government helped to transport many of them back to areas they called home. they were hopeful of a new life and peace after independence, but instead they got war. >> translator: death is everywhere. people are buried in a very large graveyard. the kids were not safe either. even a pregnant woman has not escaped death. we have seen many shocking things in the south. >> reporter: less than five years after leaving sudan, they are back. this time as refugees who have suffered a lot. caroline malone, al jazeera. emergency teams in afghanistan and pakistan are trying to reach people trapped after an earthquake on monday. at least 379 people died. kamal heidler has more. >> reporter: help is beginning to arrive, but the most difficult thing about that help

10:20 am

is the fact that it should be arriving in time. now we have been able to see families still waiting for someone to come out and get them out of this difficult situation. this old lady has been waiting for two days. she says no one has come to her house to try to give her reassure angst that she will be able to rebuild this mud home. she is traumatized. >> translator: our house is collapsed. what will we do now? we are very pour. now we have lost everything, and we won't be able to rebuild. no one is helping us, and there has been no aid from the government. we're sitting at the mercy of god. >> reporter: there are many other like this who are still waiting. the problem has become very complex, because the destruction is over a large area, and it's a in small pockets.

10:21 am

once again it is the poor who are hit hard. the government has to do something really fast if it wants to come true on its claim that it is always there to help its people. the calamity is not so large, but there needs to be some sensitivity. the prime minister, and the chief minister, and politicians may be doing here for photo sessions, but this is a time for action. tens of millions of people in one of the poorest regions are voting for new state leaders. it will have a big impact on how the country is run. our correspondent explains. >> reporter: this man is hundreds of kilometers from home. he came to new delhi from the northern indian state 25 years ago. he like tens of millions of people from his state have left home in search of opportunity. >> translator: things are really bad at the moment.

10:22 am

when i go home every year or two, the cost of living seems to have increased dramatically. >> reporter: but those who have stayed are hoping this election will change their fortunes. many people here say they want a government who will focus on the basics, education, health, and employment. >> translator: whichever government comes into power, i hope it works for the development of this state. >> reporter: the prime minister says his party will deliver. he's leading the ruling party agenda party, or bjp's campaign. his message, we'll do what other parties haven't been able to. >> translator: we want to provide electricity to each village by 2019. today there are 4,000 villages in the state where there is no electricity. by 2022 we want to provide

10:23 am

electricity to every house. >> reporter: the results of this state election are expected to have a big impact, not only on the future of one of india's most populous and pour estate but also on the nation's political landscape. >> they are looking at this to confirm or refruit whether he is still popular or not. >> reporter: the party's success was attributed to modi's mass appeal. >> any electoral defeat is going to say that the idea of the modi brand is getting rejected by the electorate. >> reporter: back on the street, this man doesn't see this election as a popularity contest. for him it's about being given a good reason to go home.

10:24 am

in just over a week's time now, myanmar will hold its first-contested general election in 25 years. the national league for democracy, is running against the military-backed party of the former general and president. but neither party has chosen any muslim candidates despite them making up around 10% of the population. phil rees reports. >> reporter: despite the prominent role that myanmar's muslims played in confronting the former regime, the national league for democracy has refused to let any muslims represent the party in upcoming elections. >> translator: [ inaudible ] has selected 1200 parliamentary representatives and none are muslim. someone said i think they are concerned about the committee for the protection of

10:25 am

nationality and religion. >> reporter: the committee for the protection of nationality and religion, is headed by an influential anti-muslim monk and supporter of the government party. he is notorious for his anti-muslim rhetoric. his messages feed the fears of the buddhists and yet are rarely criticized by the nld. >> translator: in places where there are many muslims, native girls are being killed. men are being killed. women are raped and killed. >> reporter: members of the rohingya minority have been prevented from voting or standing in the election. this was an mp for five years now the electoral commission says his documents don't fulfill the citizen obligation.

10:26 am

is this the regining of a process to deny your right to give in myanmar? >> yes, this is the beginning of -- to deny my rights to stay in myanmar. not only me, the whole rohingya community may be at risk now. >> reporter: the international state crime initiative in london will publish a report which condemns the president for trying to annihilate the rohingya presence in myanmar. >> the present regime is prepared to absolutely tolerate the kind of hate speech for the government's own ends, and that is to marginalize, segregate, diminish the muslim population inside of burma. >> reporter: the national league for democracy denied there had been a personing of muslims in the party. as a spokesperson told al

10:27 am

jazeera, we believe to win it is better strategy to leave out muslim candidates. you can see the investigative units full documentary at 0100 hours gmt on thursday, and online at aljazeera.com/genocideagenda. the u.n. general assembly has voted to call for an end to the economic embargo in cuba. this will be good news to some cubans. melissa chan takes a look at major league baseball as relations tin to thaw. >> reporter: these men are the future of cuban baseball. if they play well on this sunday afternoon, they might join cuba's version of the new york yankees. but some dream of a future well beyond that in the united states. >> you play baseball anywhere you always want to compete at

10:28 am

major league baseball, because it's the highest level of baseball. there's no league in the world like it. >> reporter: to get to the u.s., cuban ballplayers usually defect to a third country first in order to negotiate as international free agents. the salaries do not come easy. they have had to risk their lives and leave their families. >> translator: the way things are right now between cuba and the united states, i think it should be easier. since both governments are looking for ways to have ties, i think it's easier. of course i would like to have my family here with me. >> reporter: more than 350 players have left cuba since 1980, but normalization has sparked an exodus. about 100 players have left in the past 12 months alone. players are worried that major league could one day negotiate directly with the cuban government, which means smaller

10:29 am

paychecks. these men played baseball in the streets. >> translator: some play baseball and say they want to be just like escobar and other stars. he hasn't been forgotten. he won't be forgotten in this neighborhood. >> reporter: escobar once played for cuba's team, and while the children here consider him a legend, cuban officials label him like others who left defebruaryingtors, athletes who abandoned the country. when his team won the nationals, the cuban government gave him this house, and when he left, well, the government confiscated the house. >> the cuban sports official, the cuban government will say -- has an immense amount of power over the players. >> reporter: cuba makes considerable investment in its players from a very young age, and it now faces a future where

10:30 am

it would lose even more top talent. and the u.s. would be paying for that now, directly to the cuban government. if you want to keep up to date with that story and all of the others we have been telling you about, head over to our website. you can see our front page there, aljazeera.com. ♪ a republican faceoff between the out-going speaker of the house and his chosen successor. the pressure now on paul ryan to dismantle john boehner's budget deal. debate day, but there time there is a new front runner. and the justice department look going that violent classroom confrontation in south carolina, the officer invol